Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-06-23
ONLY FOR FUN,


Hain't quite so spry as ! was twenty odd
years ago. but hold on bit and I'll help
you down" And so saying Alderman 81
Dunning reached up large fat hand and
elsed Miss Patsy's descent from the one
horse shay that old Doane was tugging at,
evidently not wishing 10 tarry, for she SEEM
el instinctively 10 conclude that IL Miss
Patty stopped there was no telling when she
would assume her journey
You see, though Miss Patty was good
old soul as ever lived she was very much
given TO harmless gossiping, and she gener-
ally tarried long over the whine when she
began 10 talk over her own troubles and
trials.
Miss Patty was, as she herself expressed
it, nigh ON TO sixty, and, In fact, she had
years, so that most folks put it at seventy
or thereabouts. just now Miss Patty was
in peck of trouble-she had come down
from the Roseheaf farm in search of female
help.
Mrs. Dunning, the hotel-keeper's wife,
came out 10 greet the new conner, being al
ways glad 10 see the tidy body, especially
rs Miss Patty Slocums butter was the best
for miles around, and she always made IL "A
point 10 bring some along with her.
just now Uncle 81, as most people called
him, was grunting over the three-gallon of
buttercup yellow creamery.
Mrs Dunning relieved the butter-maker
of her basket of eggs, and she herself gath
cred up bunch of garden sass, and brought
up in the rear as the trio trudged through
the garden and around 10 the ample hotel
kitchen, Miss Patty remarking, rs they were
passing the side piazza
'I've got TO have some help somehow or
other. I've inquired all the way along but
girls seem 10 DC mighty scarce alters the
way these days, when you want 'em TO do
bit of work they are nowhere around. Ifit
warn't for the rheumatic" but right here
Miss Patty's voice was lost, rs she turned
the corner of the great house. Though lost
TO view, she was indelibly stamped on the
memory Of the group of girls who sat on the
front piazza, some in low wicker rockers,
one in a hammock, swinging laZily, another
half hidden by the luxuriant woodbine that
clambered up the second story.
81 say, girls, come here every one of you, ;"
and the face that had been peeping from the
woodbine came into full view, and the dain-
ty, muslin clad body sailed down the steps,
and four others, not at all alike, after her
around the west side of the house, and with
in hearing of all that was said In the
kitchen.
"Mum is the word, now, girls ; don't you
give an audible smile for your life. think
the party ia the immense sun bonnet-sha-
ker / suppose you'd call it's a case and
original, too and want 10 hear what she
is going 10 say about her help. She makes me
think of old Aunt Hannah, up at the springs.
This old body is just such go-ahead-
sharp rs n cricket and, except for her
rheumatism, would be equal 10 half doz-
en- such girls as you and L.
When the girls had reached the desired
spot right under high window that open
ed out of the buttery, that was Mrs. Dun
by the by, they all sat down on n long
wooden bench that was under great over
hanging lilac bushes, just now laden with
immense clusters of the lovely perfumcd
blossoms.
Rose Stoneleigh. the leader of the group,
put one dimpled finger up 10 her lips, and
the others, in "follow your leader" style,
each raised finger, and they were all as
quiet as mice Presently, through the win
dow, came the voice of Mrs. Dunning:
'Tndeed you must stop a minute, Miss
Slocum. You'll be all done out time you
get back home again
"No ! thankee all the same. I'll try one
more place, and then I'll get back home a
gain"
'Its too bad you can't find anybody.
What Is the particular rush, just now ?
Surely haying has not commenced with
you 2"
"No not exactly, but I've n sight on
hand just now got TO do some pie plant
and then them ere gooseberries are about
ripe enough to can, and in couple of
weeks the cherries will he on hand, and
poster the hired help anyway. I'd sooner
grub along, anyhow. than bother with any
of them, If it want for this plaguey rheu-
matiZ. 1t kinder ketches me wonst in
while, and, no use to talk, il takes the
spunk clean ont of me. / heard as they had
some sort of lie down to the post-office that
was powerful good for sich cases, and guess
must get quarters worth just to try it.
Feel sort of 'fraid to, too
''Girls, sit still, and will be back in n
trice," and off flew Rose, skimming past
stately Helen Parker, who still sat on the
piazza, scratching away with her pen on an
oval stand before her.
"What are you up TO now Rose Stone
leigh ?"
Cant stop to tell any fibs just now, said
Rosa, as she flew up the broad stairway and
into her room. Presently she emerged an
different-looking person. In the
place of n muslin she had donned school
girl gingham, white apron, and plain
linen collar, her hair all smoothed down to
get the contrary wrinkles out perfectly nat
ural You know. Down she went, stole back
and seized Mrs Dunning's blue gingham
sun-bonnet, and darting TO the wondering
girls, had just time to signal them to the
front, when Miss Patty emerged from the
other side and was about to ascend the steps
of the comical vehicle. Mrs. Dunning,
turning after her, said 81 hope you'll
succeed in your efforts, Miss Slocum. If
wasn't 40 busy I'd let Selma come up day
or two and help you out, but You see we
have the seminary girls-at least six of
them-and it keeps one kinder busy. Why
what on earth - Here the good old lady
had to stop in sheer amazement, for she rec
ognized her sun-bonnet coming toward her
with little body underneath.
Rose did not stop for anything, but sailed
nm To Miss PATTY made n demure little bow